Giro d'Italia

Soudal Quick-step kicked off the day by going to the podium to collect the prize awarded to the best team of the previous stage – thanks to the solid displays of Ethan Hayter, Mattia Cattaneo and Josef Cerny in the individual time trial – and continued it by placing James Knox in a large breakaway group that formed after a crazy first hour of racing, during which the peloton covered 53 kilometers.

The group had the numbers, and on paper, an important chance to go all the way, but the bunch pushed a punishing pace on the steep slopes of the Alpe di San Pellegrino – which returned at the Giro after 25 years – and the escapees were caught. Another group, much smaller this time, managed to get away and remained off the front until Pietra di Bismantova. There, as soon as they were reabsorbed, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-Easy Post) took off and soloed to victory on this 163rd Giro d’Italia stage to conclude in Reggio Emilia.

Once again, James Knox was the first Soudal Quick-Step rider home in Castelnovo ne’ Monti and moved up two positions, remaining the team’s best placed rider in the general classification going into Thursday’s stage, a pan-flat one which will bring the sprinters again in the spotlight.

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